Dangerous e-motorbikes 'putting town under siege'

People in a south Wales town say they feel "under siege" from dangerous e-motorbike riders.

Residents complain that there have been regular near-misses, and one councillor believes it is only a matter of time before someone is killed.

Some business owners in Tredegar in Blaenau Gwent have said they are thinking of leaving because of the problem, and BBC Wales has heard similar frustrations from other communities in the area.

Gwent Police said it has launched an "intelligence-led, targeted" operation in the county tackling crime, as well as anti-social behaviour, which has fallen by more than a third.

There are essentially two types of electric powered bike - generally, lower-powered bikes are considered equivalent to pedal cycles, while higher-powered bikes are considered equivalent to motorcycles.

However, some electric bikes that appear to be similar to pedal bicycles can be altered to be made much more powerful. Riders on higher-powered bikes must wear a helmet and have a licence.

Gwent officers are said to be tackling problems with methods such as using drones that can see in the night.

The force's most recent Operation Greyhawk activity saw 16 arrests for a number of offences, more than 60 people and many vehicles stopped and searched. In addition, drugs and vehicles were seized.

Outside the Tredegar Arms, a pub and hotel in the centre of town, restaurant supervisor Michelle Grierson, looking up and down the street where riders do wheelies, said: “They do it outside the police station as well.

“They wheelie spin up the road and round the roundabout and they’re up and down.

She said it could feel "quite frightening" for guests, including from countries such as the Netherlands and France, who were abused by riders.

Local people said they raced around the town clock, which is on a roundabout in the middle of the town, ignoring a road sign that expressly forbids it.

They also said riders, wearing balaclavas and not helmets, did wheelies in the middle of the road, and mounted pavements.

“They go around the roundabout nine times out of 10 the wrong way,” said Tredegar councillor Haydn Trollope.

“I honestly believe that it’s only by the grace of God at the moment that people haven’t got killed,” he said.

“There have been a number of minor accidents, near-misses.

“It’s a town under siege,” said one man in the street, and others agreed with that. BBC Wales has heard similar frustrations from other communities in the area.

There is now concern that some people may take the law into their own hands and tackle the riders themselves.

Mr Trollope said: “I’ve been told by a number of people, if I catch them…”

“I say, please let the police do their job,” he said. “I’ve got great respect for the police, but in this case I feel their hands are tied”.

The councillor said there had been an “influx” of e-motorbikes in the last year.

“These electric bikes are on the pavements, I’ve got two or three people that’s come to me recently that have been hit by them”.

He said there was an incident with a woman in her 70s recently.

“A youth on an electric bike went through town, a lady was coming out of a shop, obviously she didn’t look to see if there were any bikes on the pavement - they went past and smacked her in the arm,” he said.

“Luckily this lady didn’t go down,” he said.

He said he did not blame police, and claimed that “their hands are tied - they feel as frustrated as I do”.

However, police said allegations of collisions involving riders had not been reported to them.

Police forces are trying to fight back, checking licences, removing high powered e-motorbikes from the streets and using drones to trace problem riders.

Road Traffic Wales has said riders must understand that an e-motorbike motor should have a maximum power output of 250 watts with a top speed of 15.5mph (25km/h). It said that if an e-motorbike goes faster than this, it could not be legally ridden on roads.

In October 2023 an rider collided with a pedestrian in the south Wales town of Port Talbot and then fell from his bike.

An 18-year-old admitted dangerous driving and was sentenced to 14 months in a young offenders institution, and given a 19-month riding ban.

Some people are so concerned that they are thinking about shutting their businesses and leaving the town, according to Tredegar mayor and business owner Kevin Phillips.

“In my opinion it’s getting worse and worse,” said Mr Phillips.

“You see them riding through town at silly speeds, on the pavement,” he said.

“When we’re speaking to local businesses, they’re ready to pull out of town - because it’s going to be harmful to their businesses, their clients, and anybody walking to the shop,” he said.

He is also concerned that it is affecting the regeneration of the town, and said he had spoken to many owners who felt their businesses were under threat.

“It’s awfully difficult to bring in business and support businesses, and see businesses thriving because of this menace,” he said.

“It’s a nuisance to businesses and our community,” he said.

A Gwent Police spokesperson: “In Blaenau Gwent specifically, our team has launched Operation Greyhawk to address crime and anti-social behaviour by using a range of tactics and an intelligence led, targeted approach.

"Due to the efforts of officers, partners and information from the public that inform our operations, we have seen anti-social behaviour reduce by more than a third in Blaenau Gwent.

"To help us build a picture of e-bike use in Tredegar, we encourage people to start reporting issues they are experiencing in the same way in which they do with off-road bikes."